By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, June 05, GNA – The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly has distributed a total of 1,170 dual desks to 29 basic schools across the metropolis as part of efforts to address the persistent shortage of furniture and improve the learning environment for pupils.
The intervention, supported through the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), formed part of government’s broader commitment to improving educational infrastructure and ensuring that pupils had access to adequate classroom furniture.
The beneficiary schools are Kaladan Primary ‘C’, Dabokpa Failiya Islamic Primary, Nawariya Islamic Primary, Nakpanzoo Methodist Primary, Mahadil-Hudaa Islamic Primary, Ghana Armed Forces Corps Basic School, and Baglahi Islamic Primary.
Others are Dalogyili L/A Basic School, Chanzeni M/A Primary School, Burhaniyat Primary School, Cheshe R/C Primary School, Duuyini AME Zion Basic School, Dakpema Primary School ‘A’, Nahada Islamic Primary, Wamale Islamic Primary School, Darul-Islam E/A Primary School, and Gbabshie Methodist Primary school.
The rest are Kpanvo Presby Primary, Ngan-Wuni M/A Primary School, Lamashegu M/A Primary School ‘B’, Police Barracks Basic Model School, Maltiti Methodist Girls Primary, Koblimahagu Sobriya Primary, Anwa Rahaman Primary and Bilpela Taskif Primary School, Happy Child International School, Mahaliya Islamic Primary School, Al-Amal Islamic Primary School and Nyohini Yapalsi Methodist Primary School.
Alhaji Adam Abubakari Takoro, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, speaking during the handing over ceremony, said the distribution fulfilled a campaign commitment made by the National Democratic Congress ahead of the 2024 general election to help address the furniture deficit in schools.
He said government had directed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to allocate at least 10 per cent of their Common Fund resources towards the provision of furniture for schools particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Alhaji Takoro explained that the furniture distribution would be undertaken in three phases, with the first phase involving the supply of 1,170 dual desks made up of 770 desks for upper primary pupils and 400 desks for lower primary pupils.
He said the Assembly would second phase would see the distribution of 1,140 mono desks to Junior High Schools and some Senior High Schools while the third phase would involve the provision of octagon tables for kindergarten pupils.
He said the Assembly had adopted a furniture supply policy that matched the type of furniture to the educational level of learners.
Alhaji Takoro said the furniture was being procured with funds from the assembly’s 2025 Common Fund and assured the residents that similar interventions would continue annually to progressively eliminate the furniture deficit in schools across the metropolis.
He said the Assembly would continue the programme beyond 2028 until the furniture needs of schools within the metropolis were adequately addressed.
Mr Nelson Naakiniib Konlan, Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education, who received the furniture on behalf of the beneficiary schools, expressed appreciation to the Assembly for the intervention, describing it as a significant contribution towards addressing the furniture challenges confronting schools in the metropolis.
He said the support would improve teaching and learning conditions in the beneficiary schools and help create a more conducive environment for academic work.
Mr Konlan said “Maintenance remains one of our major challenges. Teachers and school authorities must ensure that the furniture is properly used and protected to guarantee its longevity.”
He said schools in the Tamale Metropolis currently faced an estimated 90% furniture deficit with existing furniture meeting only about 10% of actual demand.
He expressed optimism that the newly distributed desks would significantly improve the situation in the beneficiary schools and contribute to reducing the overall furniture gap within the metropolis.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Kenneth Odeng Adade